Summary

  • Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major warns a Labour-SNP government would be "a recipe for mayhem"

  • Labour says it would launch what it calls an "NHS rescue plan", including a recruitment drive for 1,000 new nurses

  • Ed Miliband accuses David Cameron of putting the union at risk by "talking up" the SNP

  • Nick Clegg says Lib Dems would allow councils to charge 200% council tax on second homes in rural beauty spots

  • BBC Radio One's Newsbeat stages hour-long debate on health, education and immigration for 100 young adults

  1. Tuesday's top storiespublished at 00:00

    Rows between Labour and the Conservatives about the SNP have once again featured strongly, with Tory grandees Sir John Major, Lord Tebbit and Lord Forsyth joining the debate.

    • Sir John said the SNP could "blackmail" a future Labour government
    • But Ed Miliband accused David Cameron of "demeaning his office" with his attacks
    • UKIP wants to slash the BBC licence fee
    • The Lib Dems say they would increase the council tax paid on second homes
    • Conservative chairman Grant Shapps has said a Guardian story linking him with changes to Wikipedia pages is "the most bonkers story" of the campaign so far
    • The DUP launched its election manifesto

  2. Jargon bustingpublished at 23:56

    Newsbeat

    Are you after a explanation of some of the key words and phrases being uttered on the campaign trail? Look no further. BBC Newsbeat has prepared a handy video guide to explain all.

    Newsbeat's election A-Z
  3. More from Shappspublished at 23:37

    This story is based on a single Wikipedia editor who is anonymous," says Mr Shapps, complaining that the Guardian went ahead with the story anyway.

  4. Shapps claimspublished at 23:36

    Grant Shapps is talking to the BBC News Channel to deny those Guardian claims that he - or "someone acting on his behalf" - tried to edit Wikipedia pages about himself or other MPs.

    "It's the most bonkers story I've seen in this election campaign so far," he says. "A simple look in my diary shows I was elsewhere."

  5. More from Newsbeatpublished at 23:03

    On the subject of health, Paul Uppal, for the Conservatives, addressed mental health spending but argued: "Money alone is not the issue." Lib Dem Norman Lamb, a health minister, promised to treat physical and mental health equally. He highlighted his party's pledge of £1.2bn for the next five years for children and young people.

    On education, Labour's Emma Reynolds said: "We need to learn from countries like Germany which value apprenticeships at the same level as degrees."

    The Newsbeat audience

    Readers can continue the discussion using #Newsbeat on Twitter. Another group of young voters will meet next Tuesday in Edinburgh, when the final Newsbeat debate will focus on the cost of living, jobs and housing.

    Read more: What you told Newsbeat in Birmingham

  6. Wednesday's Timespublished at 22:50

    Times front pageImage source, The Times
  7. Newsbeat recappublished at 22:45

    Newsbeat's debate in Birmingham
    Image caption,

    Newsbeat's debate in Birmingham

    More than 100 young voters have been quizzing five politicians during a Newsbeat election debate at the University of Birmingham. The big themes of the night were immigration, education and health. UKIP's Steven Woolfe told the audience "none of our party have ever said we don't like immigrants" while the Green Party's Amelia Womack said "we need to take responsibility for the language we use around migration".

  8. Tomorrow's Daily Mailpublished at 22:28

    Daily Mail front pageImage source, Daily Mail
  9. 'Apprentices aren't stupid'published at 22:11

    Newsbeat debate

    Newsbeat

    That was a lively old debate in Birmingham and we'll continue to flag up the closing highlights.

    Stuart, 23, tackled the politicians on the UK's "flawed" education system, which he said needed restructuring.

    Stuart, 23
    Image caption,

    Stuart, 23

    Quote Message

    It's pushed towards university and qualifications. There are too many people trying to get a small number of qualified jobs. People on apprenticeships shouldn't be viewed as stupid."

  10. Wednesday's Financial Timespublished at 22:03

    Financial Times front pageImage source, Financial Times
  11. Jeffrey Wallpublished at 22:01 British Summer Time 21 April 2015

    @jswall1983

    tweets, external :

    Quote Message

    There's a big focus on quality of teachers after training, but not on those delivering the training and this needs to be reviewed #newsbeat"

  12. Stanleypublished at 22:00 British Summer Time 21 April 2015

    @Stanleyly_

    tweets, external :

    Quote Message

    Education. Education. Education- and now all that is ever mentioned about it is: student and tuition fees. There is life beyond it #newsbeat"

  13. Wikipedia claimspublished at 21:58

    Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps is denying allegations that he is behind changes made to Wikipedia entries about MPs. According to the Guardian, the online encyclopedia blocked an account amid suspicion it was being used by Mr Shapps or "someone acting on his behalf" to edit pages about himself and other MPs.

    But Mr Shapps said: "This Guardian smear is categorically false and defamatory. It is untrue from start to finish, and was quite likely dreamt up by the Labour press office. Sadly it is typical of the smears coming from those who would rather not debate policy and substance."

  14. Marguerite Hoggpublished at 21:57 British Summer Time 21 April 2015

    @MargueriteHogg

    Newsbeat

    tweets, external:

    Quote Message

    But it's not just about increasing the number of apprenticeships, but about improving the quality of apprenticeships #newsbeat"

  15. Tassiepublished at 21:52 British Summer Time 21 April 2015

    @tassiemay

    Newsbeat

    tweets, external:

    Quote Message

    #Newsbeat why not cut the salaries of those at the very top of the NHS? No one needs £600,000/year with a pension pot of 1.5million do they?"

  16. Alexpublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 21 April 2015

    @Alex_Boothe

    Newsbeat

    tweets, external:

    Quote Message

    #Newsbeat I am fed up of kids blaming @Conservatives for NHS privatisation, @UKLabour 'privatised' more!"

  17. Mental health debatepublished at 21:46

    Newsbeat

    Tamanna Miah, 21, from Sevenoaks, says: "I had a friend who [took his own life] because he had no support. The services were not there at the right time. My friend said to me 'I am struggling'.

    "I gave him all these options and he said 'no, they're not helping'. He was on a waiting list for over six months."

    Tamanna Miah
    Image caption,

    Tamanna Miah, 21, speaking at the Newsbeat debate in Birmingham

    Quote Message

    What are you guys going to do about [it] because I don't want to see any more of my friends on Facebook say 'sorry, I'm not here any more'."

  18. Election funpublished at 21:43

    Newsbeat

    Inspired by tonight's debate? Newsbeat has developed a game all about the general election, except with party leaders as robots.

    BallotBots, Newsbeat's election game
    Image caption,

    BallotBots, Newsbeat's election game

    The aim of BallotBots is to pair robot politicians with robot voters while progressing through a series of zones on your way to No 10 - and avoiding the campaign pitfalls. It's available via BBC Taster.

  19. Blaming immigrants?published at 21:34

    Newsbeat

    Peter, in the audience attacks UKIP: "Stop blaming immigrants."

    However, UKIP's Steven Woolfe replies: "Look at our manifesto, say it as much as you like, it's just plain wrong."

    Watch video of the exchange here, external

    Peter
  20. 'People are worried'published at 21:29

    Newsbeat

    Amelia Womack, of the Green Party, says: "We need to take responsibility for the language we use around migration at the moment. It's clear that people are worried about things they should be worried about [NHS, housing, public service cuts]."

    Quote Message

    We cannot continue to blame immigrants for the failure of government policy."

    Amelia Womack, Green Party
    Image caption,

    Amelia Womack, Green Party